Little Falls transcript., 1887-03-18

She has hidden them some place
else, he said shortly. ..=.
She never had them at all, replied
John, calmly.
Then what made her actso guilty9''
questioned the other. almost believing
himself In ner innocence.
Don't know!" answered John
laconically. When they returned to
the factory, there was quite a confu-
sion and hub-bub, for the Jewels had
been found by another detective en-
ployed by Dingus in the possession Of
notorious pickpocket, who, disguis.
ed as a woman, had slipped into the
store with the crowd of factory girls.
Everybody was glad, and con-
graduated Annie-even the smart
detective did, although he could
not help wishing she had
been so considerate as to
assist him to gain that reward. But
Annie could not look John straight
in the face. Poor child! what feelings
would have been hers had she known
the enormous bulge in Johns Jacket
pocket was caused by her very identi-
cal red stockings laid out to air that
morning? John of whom she never
dreamed as other than "Mr. Dart, "
even though she worked faster when
ne came her way, and perhaps felt
more anxiety about the smooth mass
es OF light brown hair than at any
other time?
Well when the two officers had gone
and all had settled to work again,
John came to Annie'r chair and said
kindly:
"Miss Annie that detective turned
everything III your room in such aw.
tul confusion, it will take You all day
to straighten it up again, so if you
like have gotten permission for you
to take the remainder of the day, and
no reduction to be made"
''Thank you-you are very kind, -
she murmured, but she would not look
at him and seemed so confused that big,
good natured John turned away in
pure kindness and let her make her
escape unnoticed.
Annie fed homeward, dashed into
No. 80, glanced wildly over the room,
then burst into tears.
"Oh, dear! oh, dear!' she sobbed.
''Ihere was my nightdress on the bed,
and my slippers, and my bed not up
and, oh! potatoes in the skillet!
On, he will think am a regular SLOW
en-! Why couldn't it happen any
other time than when I had to sleep
so late l couldn't even eat my break
fast! Oh, dear he will never like me
again! He couldn't after seeing such
a looking room.' She did not stop to
think that her castle looked worse
when they had left than when they
entered. but as the disorder
worried her SO much, she could not sit
still and cry, she began her task. 1t
was some time before the detectives
work was undone, everything in trim
order with the mattress rolled up
and the bed folded against the wall
like a book cabinet and the few dishes
washed, and the tiny stove blacked
and the screen set around it, and the
one table covered with a gaily en-
broidered cloth, all of which trans
formed the kitchen and bedroom in
to a cosy little sltting-room as
though by a fairy's wand. 1t was a
dainty little place, nothing expensive,
but exquisite in the taste and tact
displayed. The prevailing colors were
deep red and pale blue and gold, with
many neutral tints blended in thevari-
GUS bits Of fancy work. On a brac.
ket was bit OF white stauary
set on a delicate mating Of
the tender green leaves of a growing
vine-the only costly extravaganza in
the room, and Annie we'll knew how
long it took her to save enough to buy
it. She had selected her room for it's
south window, and therein were
standing two geranium plants in full
bloom, one a. deep double red, the
other q soft single white flower.
AS Annie was viewing these little
luxuries with commendable pride and
gradually p}ucking up spirits, she
suddenly bethought her OF her stock
ings. She did not remember OF pick
ing them up, and, as she only had
three pairs, it was important that
none of them should be misplaced.
Therefore she began to search dill.
gently, and was beginning to get
tired and puzzled in the useless
search, when q loud rap, which she
had heard once before, at the door,
caused her to glance hastily in the
glass and then timidly open the door
to the knocker. 1t was noon. The
whistle had blown just few minutes
before, and instead of going to his
dinner, mere was John Dart standing
at her door.
"Won't you come in?" asked An.
ME with downcast face.
'"That's what came for" respond
ed John, honestly, and in he walked.
Then he turned around, and, taking
her hands in his own in the honored
and approved fashion. he said:
II have been thinking of you this
long while. Annie, and now ! feel l
cannot wait any longer. You are
alone in the world, and I am almost
so, although uncle is very good. Let
us make each other happy, and have
a. pretty home like this"-glancine
around the room-"with posies in
every window.
Oh, of course, Annie said "Yes'-
who wonldn't? And when the quarter
OF one whistle blew, John (who was
very punctuaD went from room 80 to
the factory as one walking on air
mayhap his empty stomach had some
thing to do with the lightish feeling,
but he never thought ofthat OF course.
Annie sat and laughed and cried to
think how happy she was, and spent
the rem ainder of her holiday until
evening building air castles, until John
came back and began to put solid
foundation to the same by means oi
his pocket. book.
They were married two months aft.
erward, and the next day John gave
his wife d small bundle rolled up in